Reformed Churches in the Philippines

Nov 13th, 2009 | By admin | Category: Churches

Whenever we mention to our evangelical friends where we go to church, the conversation eventually leads to the question, “What do you mean by Reformed? What is a Reformed church?” Rev. Danny Hyde, minister of Oceanside United Reformed Church in Oceanside, California explains how a Reformed church is clearly distinct from other evangelical churches. Thus, the churches listed here would meet the distinctives set forth by Rev. Hyde, as well as those listed in “What We Believe.”

The following is our list of recommended Reformed churches in the Philippines:

United Covenant Reformed Churches in the Philippines:

San Carlos UCRC, Binalatongan Road, Baldog, San Carlos, Pangasinan
Ministers: Rev. Nap Narag, Rev. Edwin Puzon
Elders: Jose “Boy” Cabugao, Atto Manglicmot, Raffy Martinez

Las Piñas UCRC, Aurora Pijuan cor. Pilar Pilapil, BF Resort Village, Talon Dos, Las Piñas City
Minister: Rev. Edwin Puzon
Elder: Alfred Santiago
Deacon: Rudy Arceño
Contact Nos.: (02) 873-0629; (0917) 473-3970

Calauan UCRC, Calauan, Laguna (mission church)
Minister: Rev. Napoleon Narag

Pasig Covenant Reformed Church, RCJ Bldg. Rm 305, Ortigas Ave Ext cor Countryside Ave, Brgy Santa Lucia, Pasig, Metro Manila (mission church)
Minister: Rev. Nollie Malabuyo

Davao Covenant Reformed Church, Matina Aplaya, Davao City

Elders: Vic Bernales, Rodrigo “Ogie” Bicaldo, Allan Ostique

Kagay-an Reformed Church

Unit 3, 3rd Floor Jofelmor Bldg.
Mortola St., Cogon
Cagayan de Oro City 9000
Tel. No (088) 858-8187
kreformed.multiply.com

Elder: Bro. Jim Ouano
Contact Person: Bro. Glimar “Glem” Melo, glenmelo12@yahoo.com

Pastor: Bro. Glimar “Glem” Melo, glenmelo12@yahoo.com

Bradford United Church of Christ Inc.

340-P Ascension St., Urgello, Cebu City +63 32 253-4094 or +63 32 253-5281

Minister: Rev. Macky Sabayle – Pastor, Christian Education / Youth Ministry

More churches will be added later.

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  1. ptr. nollie,

    kindly add Jose “Boy” Cabugao Jr as one of the elders of UCRCP, Pangasinan.

    thanks po.

    atto m.

  2. Pastor Nollie,

    Rodrigo “Ojie” Bicaldo and Allan Ostique are also ordained elders of UCRCP Davao. Kindly add them, too. This is great!

    If you may, you could also add our contact info: Elder Ojie Bicaldo: (082) 227-9344; 0916-710-0755 or rbicaldo022000@yahoo.com; Elder Vic Bernales: (082) 304-1507; 0922-718-2901 or vicbernales@yahoo.com

  3. Praise God for these confessional Reformed churches. May God use them to further the cause of Reformation in the other regions of the Philippines.

  4. After years of searching, I have been surprised to find out we only have a few churches in the Philippines who boldly identify themselves primarily with historic Protestantism that came out of the Reformation of the 16th century. Well, anyway, I’m glad to find your website and look forward to have fellowship with you at the soonest time possible. Soli Deo gloria!

  5. Dear Edwin,

    I’m glad you found us, and we found you! I think there are many who are searching, and we just have to find each other. God bless you!

  6. Kuya Nollie, its United Covenant Reformed Church of Las Piñas and not Las Piñas Neighborhood Church. Hehehe. Hmmm, who knows the friendly neighbohood spiderman might join us and become a regular member.

  7. And before I forget, please include:

    Deacon: Rudy Arceño

    Church contact info:
    Address: Aurora Pijuan cor. Pilar Pilapil, BF Resort Village, Talon Dos, Las Piñas City
    Tel. No. (02) 873-0629
    CP No. (0917) 473-3970

  8. your church is just a duplication done by early American missionaries here in the Philippines… the fact that there is United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Lutheran Church in our country is an indication that the Reformed faith has already established and taught here….

  9. the prayer of Christ is that “that all may be one!” the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) was established as a union of Mainline Protestant Churches namely the Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregationalist, Disciples of Christ and the United Evangelical Brethren who were brought by the early American missionaries here in the country…. the UCCP is a sister church of the Reformed Church of America!!!!!!

  10. Yves, please tell me your understanding of what the “Reformed faith” is. And after that, I’m sure I can tell you if the UCCP is “Reformed.” It amazes me no end that you call the Methodist, Congregationalist, Disciples of Christ, the Brethren—and UCCP—as Reformed. Where did you get that tall tale, fable, legend, myth and fairy tale?

  11. Yes, I’m inviting you and all UCCP people to the Horton Conference. I’m sure it will be both a blessing and an eye-opener.

  12. Just so you know, because you’re so proud of being a sister church of the RCA, that the RCA is on the throes of demise, because it is one of the most liberal of the liberal churches in the U.S. Donald Luidens, Professor of sociology at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, the RCA college, predicted the demise of the RCA in “The Mournful Sounds of an Implosion”  in a recent issue of Perspectives: A Journal of Reformed Thought. Here are a couple of excerpts from his article:

    Listen. Do you hear them? Those are the gentle, mournful sounds of a denomination imploding. Sad to say, they are not the first, nor will they be the last. But this time it’s the Reformed Church in America which is slip-slidin’ away. Crushing in on herself. Catch her quickly; she’ll settle below the horizon soon. Get a last snapshot and hold it in your mind for posterity. It was here; it flourished; it ministered; it floundered; and then it was gone.

    In several studies of RCA members from 1976 through 2000, Roger Nemeth and I found that there was little knowledge of and support for the great creedal Standards of the Reformed Church. When asked about the Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of the Synod of Dort, and Belgic Confession, laity largely responded with, “Huh? ” Those who had heard of these creeds gave them little understanding or support. It appeared to us that the RCA had no “Standards” to speak of…

    And this is the state of all liberal, non-confessional, evangelical churches, floundering without a rudder and anchor in a raging sea of false teachings. A multitude of so-called Presbyterian and Reformed churches abound in the Philippines, but they are “Presbyterian” and “Reformed” in name only, their pastors and members having not even an iota of what their name means.

  13. here is my respones! F.Y.I.  I am currently studying my Bachelor of Theology in my fourth year studies in Silliman University Divinity School. My seminary is the leading seminary of Asia. Im located at the Central Visayas in Dumaguete City.

  14. Yves,
    I’m just curious, what dogmatics or systematic theology textbook or textbooks do you use in your theology class at Silliman? Also, who’s your favorite author or authors? Thanks.

  15. we have so many books that are sued but i preferred to use Daniel Migliore’s book entitled “Faith Seeking Understanding.” the book is easy to understand…

  16. Thank you, Yves. From the reviews in amazon.com it seems that the book is more of an introductory theology textbook with a Barthian flavor, and not really a solid confessional Reformed textbook like that of Louis Berkhof, Charles Hodge, Herman Bavinck, Francis Turretin, etc.

  17. Yves: In addition to the Links on this Website, I would also heartily recommend the following Websites to you, and compare what you learn here with what your’re being fed by Silliman and UCCP:

    http://www.monergism.com

    http://www.ligonier.org

    http://www.alliancenet.org

  18. i said we have so many books used… try out Hugdson, Cone,and McGrath… our professors were usually graduate from Union Theological Seminary (US) Mennonite University, Chicago Theological Seminary…. they hailed from known mainline protestant seminaries…

  19. Kawawa naman UCCP.

  20. I myself am UCCP. It’s kinda difficult wanting to confessionaly reformed when you belong to a majorly pluralistic denomination.

  21. Kim, please keep me updated on the ministry there.

  22. yves,
    All the seminaries you’ve mentioned are now considered by many evangelical leaders as liberal seminaries, not really confessional Reformed. UTS used to be a confessional Presbyterian seminary.  Sadly it’s now ‘majorly pluralistic’ in its doctrine or belief. Try to compare its belief or statements of faith (if you can find them) with the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Belgic Confession, or the French Confession and you’ll see how UTS has departed from its theological roots.

  23. I have spoken with several UCCP pastors and members who lament the liberalism, ungodliness and unbelief of many pastors and members of the denomination. It’s because of two things: no historic confessions and no church discipline. Without confessions, the church has no standard with which to compare doctrine, worship and practice. Then, even if there’s confessions, it’s only there as a piece of decoration, for show and tell.

    My roots are from a denomination called Unida Church (IEUDC), which has roots in a Presbyterian, Methodist and Reformed merger. Now it’s on its way to Bapticostalism and a chop suey of all kinds of unorthodox beliefs. There’s no telling what to expect when you visit one church and the next church. Why is this? Because there are no confessions as standard and no church discipline, and therefore anything goes. If these two things were implemented, the denomination will shatter like glass that fell on the floor.

  24. “My seminary is the leading seminary of Asia”
    ehem.  that distinction belongs to Asian Theological Seminary  :-D
     
     
     

  25. Another liberal seminary.

  26. Is there any reformed church in pampanga or baguio?

  27. Within UCRCP, none yet in those places, Superpan. But, Lord willing, it is our vision to plant, or help plant, at least one in every key city in the Philippines, and hopefully even beyond. If you know of any persons or groups interested to start a Reformed church in those places, we might be able to help them, or at least start the process. Thanks for asking.

  28. I wish there would be more Reformed churches in the Philippines.  However, does that mean, if  I join it, i would have to have my baby baptized?

  29. Yes, we require that the little children of our professing members be baptized (if they haven’t already been baptized), since this is required in our standards, the Three Forms of Unity. The Westminster Standards and the Second Helvetic Confession also require infant baptism.

    Most of our members were former Baptists, who after diligently studying Scriptures regarding this matter, have concluded that infant baptism is commanded in Scriptures.

    Belgic Confession (1561), Article 34: The Sacrament of Baptism:

    . . . For that reason we detest the error of the Anabaptists, who are not content with a single baptism once received and also condemn the baptism of the children of believers. We believe our children ought to be baptized and sealed with the sign of the covenant, as little children were circumcised in Israel on the basis of the same promises made to our children.

    And truly, Christ has shed his blood no less for washing the little children of believers than he did for adults. Therefore, they ought to receive the sign and sacrament of what Christ has done for them, just as the Lord commanded in the law that by offering a lamb for them the sacrament of the suffering and death of Christ would be granted them shortly after their birth. This was the sacrament of Jesus Christ.

    Furthermore, baptism does for our children what circumcision did for the Jewish people. That is why Paul calls baptism the “circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:12).

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Q & A 74:

    Q. Should infants, too, be baptized?

    A. Yes. For they as well as adults belong to God’s covenant and community (Genesis 17:7) and no less than adults are promised forgiveness of sin through Christ’s blood (Matthew 19:14) and the Holy Spirit, who produces faith (Psalm 22:10; Isaiah 44:1-3; Luke 1:15; Acts 2:39-39; 16:31).

    Therefore, they, too, ought to be incorporated into the Christian church by baptism, the sign of the covenant, and distinguished from the children of unbelievers (Acts 10:47; 1 Corinthians 7:14). This was done in the Old Testament by circumcision (Genesis 17:9-14), in whose place baptism was instituted in the New Testament (Colossians 2:11-13).

    Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 28:

    4. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ (Mark 16: 15-16), but also the infants of one, or both believing parents, are to be baptized (Genesis 17:7, 9; Galatians 3:9, 14; Colossians 2:11-12; Acts 2:38-39; Romans 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Matthew 28:19; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15). . . .

    6. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered (John 3:5,8); yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in His appointed time (Galatians 3:27; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 5:25-26; Acts 2:38,41).

    Westminster Larger Catechism (1647), Q & A 166:

    Q. Unto whom is baptism to be administered?

    A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, and so strangers from the covenant of promise, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to Him (Acts 8:36-38), but infants descending from parents, either both, or but one of them, professing faith in Christ, and obedience to Him, are in that respect within the covenant, and to be baptized (Genesis 17:7, 9; Galatians 3:9, 14; Colossians 2:11-12; Acts 2:38-39; Romans 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Matthew 28:19; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15; Romans 11:16).

    Second Helvetic Confession (1562), Chapter 20:

    6. We condemn the Anabaptists, who deny that young infants, born of faithful parents, are to be baptized. For, according to the doctrine of the gospel, Afor of such is the kingdom of God@ (Luke 18:16), and they are written in the covenant of God (Acts 3:25). Why, then, should not the sign of the covenant of God be given to them? Why should they not be consecrated by holy baptism, who are God’s peculiar people and are in the Church of God? We condemn also the Anabaptists in the rest of those peculiar opinions which they hold against the Word of God. We therefore are not Anabaptists, neither do we agree with them in any point that is theirs.

  30. Praise God that this site existed!  I thought that the Reformed faith has slowly vanished here in the Philippines.  Please include our church in your list of Reformed churches.  We are the first Protestant church here in Cebu City, planted (1913) by the Presbyterian Missions.  We used to be part of UCCP, but due to the liberal leaning of the denomination, we separated since 1993.  We hold on to the Five Points of Calvinism and to the historic Westminster Confession of Faith.  Please see our website for our church beliefs.  Soli Deo Gloria!

  31. Dear Pastor Macky,

    I’m glad you found us, and in God’s providence, we have found you! We should open a dialogue. My roots are in Unida Church, but it has since gone towards mainstream evangelicalism and even now, towards Pentecostalism. Hopefully, I could visit you this summer vacation.

    Pastor Nollie

  32. Yes sure, i would love to see you pastor Noli and talk on how we can further proclaim and reclaim our historic reformed faith. From where are you pastor Nolie?

  33. Pastor Nollie,
    You may change the status of Davao Covenant Reformed Church now from being a mission church to an organized church. We were organized in January 31, 2010. Praise the Lord!

  34. Praise be to God for more sites that aim to help churches here in the Philippines reform.  May the Lord be pleased to use this site to “open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Christ.”

  35. Hello Ptr. Nolie,
    It’s been quite a while since I logged to this website.  Anyway, got so busy with the church ministries.  Thanks for including our church in your lists of Reformed churches.  Just want to make a minor correction – Rev. Henry G. Cari-at is no longer connected with our church.  Also, our website is currently under construction, so hope you will bear with us.  Thanks so much pastor. God bless you more.  Do email me for some important updates.  Do you know a website where I can download for free J.I. Packers’ Concise Theology?
    Soli Deo Gloria!

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